THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE JAZZ QUESTIONNAIRE: Nick Williams of After 'Ours

After 'Ours: Day After Day

As one half of After 'Ours – with
pianist/composer Michal Martyniuk – the
multi-instrumentalist/producer Nick Williams has made a big
impression with their debut album Odyssey, released today.

Their music sits along the edge of cool
LA fusion of the Seventies coupled to soulful and contemporary r'n'b.
It also comes with a number of stellar guests like saxophonist Nathan
Haines, singer Kevin Mark Trail, Basement Jaxx vocalist Sharlene
Hector and others.

There's a summertime vibe about these
classy grooves where soul and trip-hop lounge around the pool
alongside sophisticated jazz and spacious Fender Rhodes licks.

Sweet sounds indeed, so we thought it
timely that Williams have a shot at our Famous Elsewhere Jazz
Questionnaire . . .

The first piece of music, jazz or
otherwise, which really affected you was . . ?

Probably ‘Good Times Bad Times’ by
Led Zeppelin when I was about 7. I really liked John Bonham's
drumming. I was brought up on blues so Led Zeppelin was an early
favourite.

When did you first realise this jazz
thing was for you?

When I was about 18, I started to play
and listen to more jazz influenced styles of music.

What one piece of music would you play
to a 15-year old into rock music to show them, 'This is jazz, and
this is how it works'?

How jazz works. Well probably something
obvious like ‘So What’ Miles Davis, so they can hear the simple
head idea then solos etc. so they understand the form of jazz
standards. I have been showing and teaching my 15 year old students
Steely Dan, which blends Rock and Jazz together. They have been
loving it!

Time travel allows you go back to
experience great jazz. You would go to . . ?

Which period of Miles Davis' career do
you most relate to, and why: the acoustic Fifties; his orchestrated
albums with Gil Evans; the acoustic bands, the fusion of the late
Sixties; street funk of the Seventies or the Tutu album and beyond in
the Eighties . . .

I would have to say ‘Kind of Blue’
was my favourite Miles album. Slick and easy listening. I also like
the Tutu era when Miles was playing live with Marcus Miller and Kenny
Garrett etc.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain
strange musical memorabilia at home?

If you could get on stage with anyone
it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Herbie Hancock. ‘Sun Touch’ from
his album ‘Man-Child’ or ‘People Music’ from his album
‘Secrets’.

The three films you'd insist anybody
watch because they might understand you better are . . .

The Led Zeppelin movie ‘The Song
Remains The Same’, ‘Beats Rhymes and Life: The travells of A
Tribe Called Quest’ and Dogtown and Z-Boys.

The last CD or vinyl album you bought
was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

The last vinyl I bought was Joe Zawinul
‘Concerto Retitled’, a compilation of early tracks that he
recorded as a solo artist. My last downloads were ‘One O’Clock
Last Morning’ by Rosinha Valenca and Numerous tracks by Daniel
Crawford (LA). The last CD I bought was off my friend, his band
called ‘Canivirous Plant Society’s latest EP - Phantom Finger.

One jazz standard you wished you had
written . . .

Chameleon’ by Herbie Hancock. I would
say ‘Three Views of a Secret’ by Jaco Pastorius but I don’t
think it’s a standard.

The poster, album cover or piece of art
could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

And finally, is there a track on your
most recent album you would love people to hear. And, if so, why that
one?

‘Day After Day’, as this song is
influenced by Steely Dan (one of my favourite bands), and my
fiance is singing on it. Also, Michal does a great synth solo. Haha!
It’s a pretty easy listening song so hopefully people enjoy it.

After 'Ours debut album Odyssey is out
now and available through iTunes, bandcamp and soundcloud, as well as
streaming on Spotify.

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